Cole said, "But still, dude… that was not funny. I thought you were gonna die."
He glanced around, still catching his breath. "Also… why the heck was the room black and pink?"
Jason replied, "Well, it's easy. Most games use other colors, yeah, but black and pink? It makes the place dark and beautiful. Not too scary or terrifying, but still showing how fun it can be."
Cole squinted at him. "That doesn't sound logical."
Jason ignored him and looked around the room instead.
The walls shimmered between deep green and faded maroon, the exact same colors as Cole's uniform. The floor was a soft silver, almost like mist, glowing a little under their feet. The ceiling looked like it had moving patterns in the same Thornfall colors, slowly shifting like smoke trapped in glass. Everything felt quiet, unreal—like they were floating inside someone else's dream.
Cole was wearing his usual Thornfall robe, dark green with maroon trim, and his silver badge pinned near his heart. He lay down with his hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling.
Jason said, "Cole?"
"Mhhh?" Cole answered without moving, still lost in thought.
Jason stood up with a loud sigh, stretching his arms above his head like he was trying to touch the weird glowing ceiling. His uniform looked way cooler than Cole's. It was black and red, sharp and bold—just like the colors of his tower.
Jason's tower was known for being the best in camouflage. They could change appearances, blend into anything, and make people think they were someone else. You'd never know who was who unless they wanted you to. That was kind of terrifying.
Jason's outfit wasn't like a normal school uniform either. He wore loose, baggy black pants and a streetwear-style jacket that hung open over a dark red shirt. It made him look like some mix of a video game glitch and a fashion model from a future city.
"Aghhhhh, I'm so bored!" Jason groaned, flopping back into a chair.
Cole didn't respond. He was looking to the left, out the window.
Outside, the sky looked strange—cloudy but glowing. The trees swayed like they were underwater, and mist curled up from the grass, soft and slow. And right there, standing behind the glass, was a guy watching them.
Cole narrowed his eyes.
The dude was mysterious. He had black hair with streaks of red—just like Jason's—but his eyes were what really caught Cole's attention. They weren't normal. His eyes were blood-red, like glowing coals, like something dangerous.
Jason was still rambling. "And then that dude said, 'Vampires are not allowed—blah blah blah,' like I care…"
But Cole wasn't listening anymore. He couldn't take his eyes off the guy at the window. That guy didn't move. He didn't blink. He just stood there, staring back like he already knew everything about them.
Cole was staring and staring at the guy. He didn't blink once. The stranger outside the window had his full attention—tall, sharp jaw, black-and-red hair kind of like Jason's, and eyes like blood. Not normal red. Like, glowing. Cold. Mysterious. He stood still in the dark like he didn't even breathe.
Jason noticed and crawled over, dragging his pillow with him. He plopped down beside Cole, leaned close, and waved a hand in his face. "Yo. Earth to Cole?"
Cole blinked and turned his head slowly.
Jason looked out the window too, but just then, the guy outside turned his head back around and walked off into the fog.
Jason rolled his eyes. "Forget him."
Cole said, "Who was that?"
Jason groaned, "Ughhhh—it's Jack."
"Huh?"
"Jack is a jerk. Today I got lost trying to find my tower 'cause of him."
(Flashback)
Jason had just arrived at Nightfang, his new tower. He was already late, dragging his duffel bag through a dark hallway that changed every time he turned. One minute there were stairs—next, just walls.
"Where even is this place?" he muttered.
Then he heard it.
"Ohhh, there you are, Jay… Jay… Jay…" a low, teasing voice called.
Jason turned fast.
It was Jack. Same tower uniform—black with blood-red trim—but he wore his like a rebel. Baggy shirt, collar loose, badge clipped on crooked. His hair was long in the front, dyed red over one eye.
Jason narrowed his eyes. "Don't call me that."
Jack smirked. "Says who?"
"Says me, you asshole!" Jason snapped. He slammed his badge, activating it. Magic sparked. His fangs shot out and his eyes went red, glowing like fire.
Jack just smiled and let his own fangs grow. His eyes glowed too.
Then they fought.
Fast. Dirty. Magic and fists. Jason charged, Jack dodged. Jason spun, kicked him, then got slammed into the wall. They crashed through a table. Spells flew—red light, shadows, sparks.
Jason was breathing heavy. His nose was bleeding. He fell to his knees.
Then came voices. "Jack, let's go!"
Jack's friends showed up. He glanced back at Jason, eyes still glowing.
"Know this," Jack said, walking backward, "I'm ten times stronger than you."
Jason coughed, collapsed, then pushed himself to stand. His legs shook.
That's when he saw Cole. Watching him from across the hallway, just... standing there.
(Flashback ends)
Jason flopped back onto the bed. "And that's how me and you started talking. I got wrecked and ended up in my little game after we met in the halls,PLUS I SEARCHED FOR THE TOWER 3 HOURS AND ENDED UP IN YOU'RE ROOM CAUSE YOU WON THE GAME."
Cole said, "Ah, so that's why you got lost…"
Jason said, "Yep. And why did you get lost, huh?"
Cole shrugged. "I just didn't know where I was…"
Jason rolled his eyes. "Wow. Real smart."
Then he suddenly sat up. "Wait—I'm late! I gotta get back to my tower."
He grabbed his badge.
Cole blinked. "What are you doing?"
Jason smirked. "If you click it three times and say your tower's name, you get teleported back."
Cole stood up. "INSTEAD OF PLAYING THAT DUMB GAME, WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME!?"
Jason grinned. "If I did… we wouldn't be friends now." He winked.
Then he tapped his badge three times. "Nightfang," he said.
There was a soft glowing red light from his badge, like little embers burning in the air—and poof, Jason vanished in a quick swirl of dark smoke and static.
Cole grabbed the nearest pillow and threw it at the air where Jason had just been.
"ASSHOLE!"
But Jason was gone.
Now Cole was alone.
He groaned, let himself fall backward onto the bed, then got back up again. Bored. He walked out into the halls of Thornfall Tower.
Students passed by, most of them older—some carrying books, others chatting. Their uniforms looked sharper, and they all seemed to know where they were going.
Cole glanced around, hands in his pockets.
Then he froze.
There, leaning against the far wall by the stairs, was that guy again.
Dark clothes. Black and red hair falling over his eyes. A shadow-like presence.
Cole squinted.
What was his name again?
He tried to remember.
Then it clicked.
"Ah… Jack."
Jack walked up to Cole. Cole quickly stepped away, but then stopped and turned around, pretending he hadn't seen Jack at all.
Jack smirked. "Well, well, see what we have here…"
Cole didn't answer
Jack leaned closer and said, "So… I heard you're the boy everyone's been talking about?"
Cole's mind raced Huh?
Without warning, Jack's fangs slid out sharp and shiny. "Nice to meet you. Name's Jack Storm."
Cole nodded cautiously.
Jack sneered. "What does a sleepy prince say?"
Cole blinked, confused. Jack raised his hand and muttered a low chant—a vampire spell.
Suddenly, Cole felt a strange pull, like cold fingers grabbing at his mind.
Cole tried to call down the spell, fighting it back with all his will.
Jack watched, amused. "Hmmm… easier than I thought. You must be weaker than a human."
Then Jack called out, "Lisa, can you take him to the hide cave?"
From behind Jack, Lisa stepped forward. Her hands glowed with bright red magic—swirling sparks dancing around her fingertips like tiny flames.
With a sudden flash of red light, Cole's vision blurred. A sharp wind whipped around him, lifting him off his feet.
He felt like he was being pulled through a tunnel of glowing red mist.
And then—poof—he disappeared.
Jack and Lisa twisted their bodies, shrinking fast until Jack was a bat and Lisa. They took off, wings beating softly in the cool night air as they flew toward the cave hidden behind the cliffs.
When they reached the cave, Jack shifted back to his normal self. Moonlight spilled through the big, cracked window, casting pale light on the wet stone walls covered in glowing green moss. The air smelled damp and salty. Jack pushed the old wooden window open with a soft creak, careful not to break the glass. He jumped inside and smoothed out his jacket like he always did.
"Hey ladies," he said with a grin.
Jeannette rolled her eyes. "Took you long enough."
Jack shrugged. "Had to handle some business."
Mila narrowed her eyes. "What business?"
Jack let out a low, dark laugh. "We've got a new guest."
Jack sat back in a black chair, flipping through a book. He read for a while, then looked up and said, "Ahh, that took like three hours! Finally, you're awake."
Cole groaned. He was tied to a chair, blindfolded with tape over his mouth. His arms were bound tight, and he couldn't move much.
He mumbled something. Jack got up, ripped off the tape, and Cole blurted, "Are—are you guys kidnappers…?"
Lisa leaned against the wall and smirked. "Nope. We're just wannabe gangster vampires."
Jack gave her a "what the hell?" look.
Lisa shrugged. "I'm not lying though."
Cole blinked, confused. "So... where even am I?"
Lisa laughed. "Good question. You really think a kidnapper's gonna tell you that?"
Cole said, "Would be nice."
Every vampire in the room groaned and slapped their foreheads at the same time.
Lisa's hair was red and black, styled in a mix between a wolfcut and a butterfly cut. She pulled a small mirror and red lipstick from her pocket, flipped the mirror open, and carefully applied the lipstick to her lips. Then she snapped the mirror shut, set both the mirror and the lipstick on the table, and walked over to Cole.
"You've got something we need," she said calmly.
Cole shook his head. "I don't!"
Lisa leaned in closer. "Lying won't make things easier."
"But—" Cole started.
"You never interrupt a girl when she's talking!" Jaden snapped from the side, arms crossed, glaring.
Lisa cleared her throat and said, "Like I said… we need something from you."
She lifted one hand and flicked her fingers like she was brushing dust off her shoulder. Then she walked in slow, lazy circles around Cole, heels clicking on the floor.
"You know… the king, long ago, left something here for his little prince," she said, pausing right behind him. "And we know you're the prince."
"I'm not!" Cole snapped.
Jaden slammed his boot against Cole's chair, nearly tipping it. "NEVER interrupt a woman when she's speaking!"
Lisa smirked. "Thank you."
Jaden nodded and said, "No problem," before strolling off like nothing happened.
Cole gulped and kept quiet now, not daring to say anything else. Lisa crouched a little to his level.
"Stop saying you don't have it. You do," she said. "You may talk now."
Cole swallowed hard and said, "I'm not the prince. And even if I was… you guys don't have any proof."
Lisa raised an eyebrow. "Technically… we do."
She tilted her head slightly and said, "Jack?"
Jack leaned back in his seat. "You don't command me," he said coldly.
Lisa rolled her eyes. "Relax. I'm just asking. I know you're the big bad 'leader' of this club."
Jack sighed, stood up slowly, and pulled something from his coat. "Here," he said, holding it up. "This is your blood. DNA match. Exact."
Cole's heart dropped. But he kept shaking his head, lying like his life depended on it. "I'm not the prince," he said again. "I'm not!"